HARTFORD, Conn., June 14
-- James W. Schmotter, a highly regarded business school dean
known for his communication skills, today was named as the
eighth president of Western Connecticut State University by
the members of the Connecticut State University board of
trustees.

Schmotter, 56,
will succeed James R. Roach, who has served as WCSU's
president since 1992. Roach announced last year that he would
retire effective Aug.1.

"We very pleased
to welcome Jim to the Connecticut State University System,"
said Lawrence D. McHugh, chairman of the CSU board of
trustees, who noted that more than 115 applicants for the
position were considered during a nationwide
search.

"He's an
outstanding teacher and a gifted administrator who will
undoubtedly prove to be an exceptional president as he guides
Western during this period of unprecedented growth and
improvement," McHugh continued. "But most importantly, he is a
person who is focused on the needs and interests of students,
and I believe it this quality that will truly distinguish his
presidency."

Schmotter
is currently the dean of the Haworth College of Business and a
professor of management at Western Michigan University.
Haworth is one of the largest business colleges in the United
States, with about 5,600 undergraduate students and about 600
MBA students. He became a member of the WMU faculty in 1997
after serving for five years as the dean of the College of
Business and Economics at Lehigh University.

Schmotter began his
career at SUNY at Binghamton, before moving to the Johnson
Graduate School of Management at Cornell, where he served as
both assistant and associate dean from 1979 through 1992,
responsible for admissions, external relations and
international programs.

Schmotter received a B.A. in history from Muskingum
College in 1969. Four years later, he received a Ph.D. in
history from Northwestern University, where his dissertation
focused on colonial ministers in New England. He subsequently
did graduate coursework in higher education administration at
Columbia University.